NFL Player News

Watkins is week to week but is expected to dodge the injured reserve, which would’ve guaranteed Watkins would miss at least three games. Watkins is unlikely to be ready for Week 7, however. The Chiefs will get Mecole Hardman onto the field more in his absence, and Tyreek Hill is due more targets as well. Watkins led the team in targets in 3-of-5 games before his injury. He’s a bench hold in 12-team leagues if possible. Hardman now deserves WR3/flex consideration even if his floor remains low.

The 2022 first-round pick was among a handful of Jets players who did not participate in Tuesday’s session, which is voluntary. Another notable player who was absent was three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Despite a dip in performance in 2024, Williams is currently ranked fourth among the league’s interior defenders heading into the 2025 season, per PFF.

Ryans on Tuesday addressed reports that Stroud is dealing with a lingering muscle injury in his throwing shoulder. “It’s just general soreness,” Ryans said. “We’re taking extra precaution with him, but he’ll be good to go. No concerns on my end there.” The Texans will play it safe with their franchise quarterback in the coming weeks until he’s back to 100 percent, hopefully in time for training camp. The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year struggled mightily for most of the 2024 season, both with accuracy and decision making. Stroud last season ranked 28th out of 32 qualifying QBs in drop back success rate and his adjusted yards per attempt plummeted from 8.7 in 2023 to just 6.7 in 2024, in line with Aaron Rodgers and Bo Nix.

Callahan said during his Tuesday presser that Ward has improved in recognizing various defensive fronts and ways to exploit different coverages that he may not have seen in college. Ward, the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is also working on calling protections that should give him time to operate in the pocket. “He’s seen lots of different pressures, understanding where your answers are, those things that progressed,” Callahan said. Ward in his final collegiate season was sacked on 16 percent of his pressures, a fairly high mark and potentially a cause for concern. Ward is fully expected to start Week 1.

The other was defensive end John Franklin-Myers, who is in the last year of his current contract. Franklin-Myers, who has made it clear that he wants a contract extension, has been training on his own. The 28-year-old Franklin-Myers set a career high with 7 sacks last season. The Broncos expect him to be on hand at mandatory minicamp, which begins June 10. As for Surtain II, the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, he has been at the Broncos complex at times during the offseason. The OTA sessions are voluntary.

After flaming out with Jacksonville — catching 20 passes for 239 yards over ten games in 2024 — Davis is seeking a new home with a wideout-needy team. That could be the Steelers, who recently dealt George Pickens to the Cowboys in exchange for draft picks. Davis, who reportedly failed a physical before the Jaguars released him in early May, could function as a downfield specialist and a potential WR2 behind DK Metcalf if he signs with Pittsburgh. Davis has been a popular name on the visit circuit this offseason as he’s also spent time with the Giants and 49ers.

This report comes a day after Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client would “definitely like to stay in Miami” in 2025 following his breakout 2024 season. Recent reports linked the Steelers to Smith, a move that would reunite Pittsburgh OC Arthur Smith with Smith after their time together in Atlanta. Smith remaining in Miami would be the best case scenario for his fantasy prospects; he would barely be on the fantasy radar in the Steelers’ stale, unproductive, run-heavy offense. Smith in 2024 ranked fourth among all tight ends in both targets and receptions. He was ninth in yards after the catch per reception. Smith should be a top-10 tight end in the Dolphins offense if he stays put.

In Denver OTAs, Harvey — a second round selection in the 2025 draft — “has been given ample work in the passing game as he prepares for the kind of multifaceted responsibilities required of running backs in [Sean] Payton’s offense,” Kosmider said. “The early returns have been promising, with the obvious caveat that he hasn’t yet put on pads and been asked to stonewall a blitzing linebacker.” Bo Nix, who checked down frequently during his time at Oregon and in his rookie season with Denver, said Harvey has impressed as a pass catcher out of the backfield. “You know he can run the ball,” Nix said, “but I think it’s the other things that he’s (already) showing. Just the routes, (his) suddenness and quickness in his hands.” Broncos running backs combined for a 22 percent target share in 2024, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. Harvey is shaping up as a potential stud in PPR formats.

Daniels has once again impressed Washington coaches and teammates with unmatched work ethic this offseason, following his outstanding 2024 rookie campaign, which included 25 passing scores and six rushing touchdowns. Only five quarterbacks had a higher EPA per play than Daniels. “Just watching him move around, he’s not thinking as much, he’s playing fast and letting his natural gifts kind of take over, and that’s what we want to see,” Kingsbury said during Washington OTAs. Daniels has delivered the ball accurately and on time in offseason practices, just as he did through much of his rookie season. “He can make every throw, he’s comfortable, he knows where the ball should go,” said Deebo Samuel, who was traded from the 49ers to the Commanders this spring. “He’s very smart.” The mobile Daniels has every chance to be the QB1 overall in fantasy football this season.

Engstrand entering his first year as an NFL play caller, worked under Ben Johnson in Detroit before landing the Jets job this offseason. Engstrand and pass game coordinator Scott Turner said the Jets would use elements of the hyper-efficient Lions offense in 2025 and beyond with Justin Fields under center. “It’s going to be a physical system,” Turner said. “We’re going to run the football, we’re going to be aggressive up front and try to chase explosive plays [in the passing game]. ... That’s what we’re going to be hunting.” New York’s main challenge will come in the form of transitioning from Jared Goff, a pocket passer, to Fields, a dynamic mobile quarterback. “In theory,” Cimini said, “run-pass options should become a staple in the offense.” The Lions under Johnson (and Engstrand) led the NFL in middle-of-the-field pass attempts and profiled as a run-first offense. Detroit has been six percent below their expected pass rate since the start of the 2023 season. If all goes well, the Jets will be among the two or three run-heaviest offenses in the NFL this season.

Kingsbury complimented Robinson as a solid lead back when healthy. “I thought early in the year when he was really healthy, he was what we expect him to be and the focus this offseason has been great,” Kingsbury said Monday. “He knows what this year means to him and can mean to us when he plays at that level.” Robinson, 26, has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. Robinson last season ranked ninth among all running backs in both carries and rushing yards from Week 1-5 before struggling through various injuries and watching his efficiency plunge. If he remains in Washington this offseason, Robinson should have every chance to remain the team’s lead back in 2025.